Glossary
Browse the IADC Lexicon alphabetically or by category. Get comprehensive definitions of drilling industry terms.
Sling
Definition(s)
Sling
An assembly that connects the load to the material handling equipment. Source: API RP 2D, Operation and Maintenance of Offshore Cranes, Seventh Edition, December 2014. Global Standards Source: API RP 2D, Operation and Maintenance of Offshore Cranes, Sixth Edition, May 2007. Global StandardsSling
An assembly typically manufactured from wire rope, chain, or synthetic material used for lifting when connected between a load and a lifting mechanism. Source: API SPEC 7K, Drilling and Well Servicing Equipment Upstream Segment, Fifth Edition, June 2010 (August 2010). Global Standards Source:API SPECIFICATION 7K, Drilling and Well Servicing Equipment, Sixth Edition, December 2015. Global StandardsSafe Working Load (SWL)
Definition(s)
Safe Working Load (SWL) (see Rated Capacity)
The maximum rated load within crane rated capacity for the given operating conditions. Source: API RP 2D, Operation and Maintenance of Offshore Cranes, Seventh Edition, December 2014. Global Standards Source: API RP 2D, Operation and Maintenance of Offshore Cranes, Sixth Edition, May 2007. Global StandardsSafe Working Load
Design load reduced by the dynamic load. Source: API SPEC 7K, Drilling and Well Servicing Equipment Upstream Segment, Fifth Edition, June 2010 (August 2010). Global StandardsSafe Working Load
The design load minus the dynamic load. Source: API SPEC 8C, Drilling and Production Hoisting Equipment (PSL 1 and PSL 2), Fifth Edition, April 2012. Global StandardsSafe Working Load
Safe working load means the load for which the hook is to be approved. Source: IMO Resolution MSC.81(70), Revised Recommendation on Testing of Life-Saving Appliances, 11 December 1998, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidanceSafe Working Load
“Safe working load” means, with respect to materials handling equipment, the maximum load that the materials handling equipment is designed and constructed to handle or support safely. Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Occupational Health & Safety Requirements, Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board, Canada, December 2000. Regulations Source: Oil and Gas Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, SOR/87-612, Canada, current to April 29, 2013. RegulationsSafe Working Load
“Safe working load” means, with respect to materials handling equipment, the maximum load that the materials handling equipment is designed and constructed to handle or support safely. Source: Rules for Classification and Construction, IV Industrial Services, 6 Offshore Technology, 9 Guideline for Personnel Transfers by Means of Lifting Appliances, Edition 2011, Germanischer Lloyd SE, Global StandardsStage Cementing Tool
Definition(s)
Stage Cementing Tool
A tool installed in the casing string through which the stage cementing operations are conducted. The tool is placed in the casing string as the casing is being installed into the borehole. After the primary cement job has been completed, and the slurry has hardened, ports in the tool are opened so stage-cementing operations can proceed. Source: API BULLETIN E3, Environmental Guidance Document: Well Abandonment and Inactive Well Practices for U.S. Exploration and Production Operations, First Edition, January 1993 (Reaffirmed June 2000). Global StandardsStage Cementing
Definition(s)
Stage Cementing
A procedure that permits using a cement column height in the borehole that normally would cause fracture of a subsurface formation. Stage-cementing operations are conducted after the primary cement job has been completed in a normal manner. When the primary cement hardens, ports are opened in a stage-cementing tool which was placed in the casing string as casing was being installed into the borehole. The second-stage cement is pumped through the ports into the borehole above the top of the primary cement. Source: API BULLETIN E3, Environmental Guidance Document: Well Abandonment and Inactive Well Practices for U.S. Exploration and Production Operations, First Edition, January 1993 (Reaffirmed June 2000). Global StandardsSqueeze Pressure
Definition(s)
Squeeze Pressure
That surface pressure required to force a cement slurry into the location desired and result in a differential pressure across the cement slurry that causes cement particles to separate from water (i.e. dehydration) and form a filter cake. Source: API BULLETIN E3, Environmental Guidance Document: Well Abandonment and Inactive Well Practices for U.S. Exploration and Production Operations, First Edition, January 1993 (Reaffirmed June 2000). Global StandardsSqueeze Cementing
Definition(s)
Squeeze Cementing
Pumping a cement slurry to a specific point in the wellbore with sufficient pressure to force the cement into the location desired. This pressure will also tend to dehydrate the cement and form a high strength filter cake in perforations, in formation voids or fractures, or against the formation face. The filter cake becomes a barrier which will prevent fluid movement. Squeeze cementing is used to seal completion intervals, to repair casing leaks, to seal formation intervals behind pipe, and to protect fresh water aquifers. Source: API BULLETIN E3, Environmental Guidance Document: Well Abandonment and Inactive Well Practices for U.S. Exploration and Production Operations, First Edition, January 1993 (Reaffirmed June 2000). Global StandardsSqueeze-Cementing
Remedial process in which cementing material is forced under pressure into a specific portion of the well such as a fracture or opening. Source: API RP 10B-2, Recommended Practice for Testing Well Cements, First Edition, July 2005 (Reaffirmed: July 2010). Global StandardsSlim Hole Completion
Definition(s)
Slim Hole Completion
A well that is completed without tubing. Usually, only small diameter casing is set and cemented. After perforating, formation fluids are produced out of the casing. Source: API BULLETIN E3, Environmental Guidance Document: Well Abandonment and Inactive Well Practices for U.S. Exploration and Production Operations, First Edition, January 1993 (Reaffirmed June 2000). Global StandardsSurface Base Pressure
Definition(s)
Surface Base Pressure
Minimum operating pressure of the hydraulic circuit for supplying power to the function(s). NOTE 1: This is usually a regulated 1500 psig. NOTE 2: Exceptions are to special functions that have a specific pressure requirement, such as shear rams used to cut a specific drill pipe or tubing. NOTE 3: This value is used in Method C accumulator calculations as defined in API 16D and referenced in Annex C. Source: API STD 53, Blowout Prevention Equipment Systems for Drilling Wells, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, November 2012. Global StandardsSurface Base Pressure
Minimum operating pressure of the hydraulic circuit for supplying power to the function(s). NOTE 1: This is usually a regulated 1500 psig (10.47 MPa). NOTE 2: Exceptions are to special functions that have a specific pressure requirement, such as shear rams used to cut a specific tubular. Source: API STD 53, Blowout Prevention Equipment Systems for Drilling Wells, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, November 2012. Global StandardsSurface Base Precharge Pressure
Definition(s)
Surface Base Precharge Pressure
Precharge value that is appropriate for surface testing. NOTE 1: This value should be available within the manufacturer’s operations and maintenance manual. NOTE 2: This value is used in Methods A and B accumulator calculations as defined in API 16D and referenced in Annex C. Source: API STD 53, Blowout Prevention Equipment Systems for Drilling Wells, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, November 2012. Global StandardsSurface Base Precharge Pressure
Precharge value that is appropriate for surface testing. NOTE 1: This value should be available within the manufacturer’s operations and maintenance manual. NOTE 2: This value is used in Methods A and B accumulator calculations as defined in API 16D and referenced in Annex C. Source: API STD 53, Blowout Prevention Equipment Systems for Drilling Wells, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, November 2012. Global StandardsSubsea Blowout Preventer
Definition(s)
Subsea BOP
Blowout preventer stack designed for use on subsea wellhead and wellhead assemblies, complete with redundant controls. Source: API STD 53, Blowout Prevention Equipment Systems for Drilling Wells, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, November 2012. Global StandardsSubsea Blowout Preventer
A series of ram blowout preventers and annular blowout preventers designed to be installed as a unit on a subsea wellhead, tubing head, or subsea tree. Source: API RP 96, Deepwater Well Design and Construction, First Edition, March 2013. Global StandardsStored Hydraulic Fluid
Definition(s)
Stored Hydraulic Fluid
The fluid volume recoverable from the accumulator system between the maximum designed accumulator operating pressure and the precharge pressure. Source: API STD 53, Blowout Prevention Equipment Systems for Drilling Wells, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, November 2012. Global StandardsStable
Definition(s)
Stable (Stabilized)
A state in which the pressure change rate has decreased to within acceptable limits before beginning the hold period during a pressure test. NOTE: Pressure changes can be caused by such things as variations in temperature, setting of elastomer seals, or compression of air or fluids, etc. Source: API STD 53, Blowout Prevention Equipment Systems for Drilling Wells, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, November 2012. Global StandardsSR
Definition(s)
SR
Shearing ratio. Source: API STD 53, Blowout Prevention Equipment Systems for Drilling Wells, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, November 2012. Global StandardsSR
Supplementary requirement. Source: API Specification 16A, Specification for Drill-through Equipment, Fourth Edition, April 2017. Global Standards Source: API SPEC 5CT, Specification for Casing and Tubing, Upstream Segment, Ninth Edition, July 2011 (Errata September 2012). Global StandardsSpacer Spool
Definition(s)
Spacer Spool
Pressure-containing piece of equipment having end connections, used below or between drill-through equipment.- NOTE: A spool is used to provide separation between two components with equal-sized end connections.
Spacer Spool
A spool used to provide separation between two components with equal sized end connections. Source: API STD 53, Blowout Prevention Equipment Systems for Drilling Wells, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, November 2012. Global StandardsSpacer Spool
Used in underbalance operations to adjust height of stack and components on assembly, and to raise or lower height of flow line. Source: IADC UBO / MPD Glossary, December 2011. Global StandardsSOP
Definition(s)
SOP
Standard operating procedure(s). Source: API STD 53, Blowout Prevention Equipment Systems for Drilling Wells, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, November 2012. Global Standards Source: Oil & Gas UK, Guidelines on subsea BOP systems, Issue 1, July 2012, Global StandardsSOP
Abbreviation for Standard Operating Procedures. Source: API RP 5A5, Field Inspection of New Casing, Tubing, and Plain-end Drill Pipe, Reaffirmed August 2010. Global StandardsShuttle Valve
Definition(s)
Shuttle Valve
A checking type valve that shifts between two or more inlets allowing the movement of control fluid to and from multiple sources. Source: API STD 53, Blowout Prevention Equipment Systems for Drilling Wells, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, November 2012. Global StandardsShuttle Valve
A valve with two or more supply ports and only one outlet port. Note: When fluid is flowing through one of the supply ports the internal shuttle seals off the other inlet port(s) and allows flow to the outlet port only. Source: API SPEC 16D, Specification for Control Systems for Drilling Well Control Equipment and Control Systems for Diverter Equipment, Upstream Segment, Second Edition, July 2004. Global StandardsShearing Ratio
Definition(s)
Shearing Ratio (SR)
The higher value of the closing ratios provided by the manufacturer. NOTE: The shearing ratio is dependent on piston size and/or booster addition. Source: API STD 53, Blowout Prevention Equipment Systems for Drilling Wells, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, November 2012. Global StandardsShut-in Well
Definition(s)
Shut-In Well
Well with one or more valve(s) closed on the flow path. Source: ISO 16530-1:2017, Petroleum and natural gas industries — Well integrity – Part 1: Life cycle governance, First Edition, March 2017. Global StandardsShut-In Well
An inactive well should be classified as shut-in when the completion interval is open to the tubing or to the casing. A shut-in well may have tubing and packer, which isolates the interior of the casing above the packer from the completion interval. A well may also be shut-in without a packer which exposes the interior of the casing to any fluids from the completion interval. Shut-in wells may have been removed from active service in anticipation of workover, temporary abandonment, or plugging and abandonment operations. Generally, the wellbore condition is such that its utility may be restored by opening valves or by energizing equipment involved in operating the well. Shut-in status should begin three months after production, injection, disposal, or workover operations cease. Source: API BULLETIN E3, Environmental Guidance Document: Well Abandonment and Inactive Well Practices for U.S. Exploration and Production Operations, First Edition, January 1993 (Reaffirmed June 2000). Global StandardsShut-In
Inactive wells in which the completion interval is open to the tubing and to the casing, or is open to the tubing only. The well may be shut-in without packer and with or without tubing, in which case the interior of the casing is not isolated from the completion interval. Or, the shut-in well may have tubing and packer, which isolates the interior of the casing above the packer from the completion interval. Shut-in wells have been removed from active service in anticipation of a workover, temporary abandonment, or plugging and abandonment operations. Generally, the wellbore condition is such that its utility may be restored by opening valves or by energizing equipment involved in operating the well. Shut-in status should begin 90 days after production, injection, disposal or workover operations cease. Source: API BULLETIN E3, Environmental Guidance Document: Well Abandonment and Inactive Well Practices for U.S. Exploration and Production Operations, First Edition, January 1993 (Reaffirmed June 2000). Global StandardsShut-In Well
SHUT-IN WELL shall mean a well which is capable of production or injection by opening valves, activating existing equipment or supplying a power source. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsSWL
Definition(s)
SWL
A load-carrying member with thrust bearings that allows the load to rotate. Source: API RP 2D, Operation and Maintenance of Offshore Cranes, Seventh Edition, December 2014. Global StandardsSWL
Safe working load. Source: API RP 2D, Operation and Maintenance of Offshore Cranes, Seventh Edition, December 2014. Global Standards Source: API RP 17L2, Recommended Practice for Flexible Pipe Ancillary Equipment, First Edition, March 2013. Global Standards Source: API SPEC 17D, Design and Operation of Subsea Production Systems—Subsea Wellhead and Tree Equipment, Upstream Segment, Second Edition May 2011 (Errata September 2011). Global Standards Source: Rules for Classification and Construction, IV Industrial Services, 6 Offshore Technology, 9 Guideline for Personnel Transfers by Means of Lifting Appliances, Edition 2011, Germanischer Lloyd SE, Global Standards Source: Rules for Classification – Offshore units, DNVGL-OU-0101, Offshore drilling and support units, DNV GL, July 2015. Global StandardsSWL
Still water level. Source: ISO 19905-1:202, Petroleum and natural gas industries – Site-specific assessment of mobile offshore units – Part 1: Jack-ups. Global StandardsSBR
Definition(s)
SBR
Styrene butadiene rubber. Source: API RP 17L2, Recommended Practice for Flexible Pipe Ancillary Equipment, First Edition, March 2013. Global StandardsSBR
Shear Blind Ram. Source: Deepwater Well Control Guidelines. IADC GuidelinesSBR
Storage bend radius. Source: API RP 17B, Recommended Practice for Flexible Pipe, Fourth Edition, July 2008. Global StandardsSubsea Buoy Clamps
Definition(s)
Subsea buoy clamps
Subsea buoy clamps are used to secure flexible pipes to subsea buoys. They typically consist of a split steel assembly that is bolted onto the flexible pipe. Source: API RP 17L2, Recommended Practice for Flexible Pipe Ancillary Equipment, First Edition, March 2013. Global StandardsSwivel Flange
Definition(s)
Swivel flange
Swivel flanges, as shown in Figure 39, are a particular type of connector that offers the advantage of relative rotation between the connector and the vessel to aid installation operations. Quick-disconnect and quick connect-disconnect systems may be used as connectors where emergency release is an operational requirement for dynamic riser applications. Source: API RP 17L2, Recommended Practice for Flexible Pipe Ancillary Equipment, First Edition, March 2013. Global StandardsSwivel flange
Swivel flanges, as shown in Figure 39, are a particular type of connector that offers the advantage of relative rotation between the connector and the vessel to aid installation operations. Quick-disconnect and quick connect-disconnect systems may be used as connectors where emergency release is an operational requirement for dynamic riser applications. Source: API SPEC 17D, Design and Operation of Subsea Production Systems—Subsea Wellhead and Tree Equipment, Upstream Segment, Second Edition May 2011 (Errata September 2011). Global StandardsSubsea Buoy Systems
Definition(s)
Subsea buoy systems
Subsea buoy systems are used to achieve S-shaped riser configurations, including lazy (Figure 19), steep (Figure 20) and reverse configurations (note that in the reverse configuration the lower catenary of the riser passes back underneath the buoy). The objective of the subsea buoy is to provide upthrust, longitudinal fixture and guidance to the supported risers. The subsea buoy typically consists of buoyancy tanks or elements, supported by a metallic structure, over which lie individual gutters for each flexible pipe. Source: API RP 17L2, Recommended Practice for Flexible Pipe Ancillary Equipment, First Edition, March 2013. Global StandardsSystem Owner
Definition(s)
System Owner
Official responsible for the overall procurement, development, integration, modification, or operation and maintenance of an information system. Source: DNVGL-RP-G108, Cyber security in the oil and gas industry based on IEC 62443, DNV GL, September 2017. Global StandardsSystem Owner
Purchaser of flexible pipe system from flexible pipe system provider. Source: API RP 17L2, Recommended Practice for Flexible Pipe Ancillary Equipment, First Edition, March 2013. Global StandardsSyntactic Foam
Definition(s)
Syntactic Foam
Composite material of hollow spherical fillers in a matrix or binder used in the manufacture of buoyancy modules.
Source: API Specification 16Q, Design, Selection, Operation, and Maintenance of Marine Drilling Riser Systems, Second Edition, April 2017. Global Standards